Coin-controlled vending-machine.



I.. K. IVIEARKLE,

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29| i916.

Pateutd Nov. 27, NIK.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' L. K. VIEAHKLE.

COIN CUNTROLLED VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED HGV. 29, 1916.

Patented Nov. 2?, 19H1 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- shape and size.

lllllE @Mild PATEN LOUS K. MEARKLE, OF PHILADELFHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 GEORG-E LEERBURGER, 0F NEW' YORKN. Y.

y Conv-conrnonnnn vnivnrNG-MACHINE.

Application filed November 29, 1916.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis K. MEARKLE, a citizen of the United Sta-tes, residing in the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin Controlled Vending Machines, of which the following is a specification. n

My invention is a coin operated machine to be attachedv to the backs of chairs, or other available places, in public auditoriums for vending chocolate, candy, or othermen chandise, in small packages of uniform The object is to construct a machine that is strong, small and compact, inexpensive, reliable in operation, easily accessible for filling and clearing of obstructions, and dependably proof against being tampered with, or picked. My machine consists of certain novel features of construction and `combinations of parts without the use of rivets, screws, or bolts as hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature, scope and particular characteristic features of my present invention will be more fully understood from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereofin which- Figure l is a side view with sections of the outside casing removed, showing the operative parts in their relation to each other when the machine is lilled with packages and locked against operation. The half inserted coin 38 indicates the front of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the operative parts within the casing, the back wall of the casing having been removed on the line a, a of Fig. rl, and omitting the package holder, which is shown later.

Fig.. 3 is a side elevation of the package holder with a suitable package 19 inserted in the holder as done in the act of filling.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view of the complete machine with the side wall o f the casing l0 removed on the line l), b Fig. 2, showing the operative relations of the moving parts when a coin is inserted and the cylinder rotated in the direction of the arrow, the dotted lines i9 indicating the po- ,Sitten lof .the package delivered.

. Specification` of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.. 2l?, i911 't'.

serial no. 134,021.

6 is ahalf sectional end viewof the cylinder 5, showin-g a delivery platform 69, and a `wire spring 40.

Fig. 7 is a sideview of Fig. 6, showing also the package 19 as forced out of the cylinder when delivered.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the cylinder, showing a Hat end inclosure 77, notched into 76 the cylinder wall.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the top end of the casing with the turned `corners 80 out out, and the flanges 35 terminated.

Fig. l0 is a rcar view of Fig. 9 with a covering cap 30 over it, showing the cylinder in place, held by two lugs 8l, and the flat back 7 terminated near the cylinder.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the casing, showing the package holder resting against the front wall of the casing and the flat back 7 thus holding' each part in place.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings, in which like characters of reference designate like parts, the improved machine comprises a rectangular sheet metal casing l0, of which the side walls 82 and 83, Fig. ll, have inwardly turned flanges 35 to removably hold the casing to the flatback 7, which may be secured to the back of a chair, or a. wall, by means of countersunk screws 84e The front casing wall 36V has a circular turn S6, Fig. 9, which conforms to the cylinder 5 within and across the top end of the casing. The flanges 35 are terminated at 29, Fig. 9, to admit the top end covering cap 30, Fig. 10, and the turned corners are cut out at 80 to give clearance to the ends of the cylinder 5. The fiat back 7, which forms the back wall of the rectangular casing, extends from one casing side wall to the other, Fig. 11, and from the bottom end wall 34 to the cylinder 5, while the lower end is turned over providing a flange 7a to completely close the opening, and act as a stop when the casing is pushed down in place. The casing 10 is secured to the back 7 by inserting the upper end of the stationary back 7 in the space between the iianges 35 andthe end of the bottom 34, then pushing the casing down ward to the liange 7a. The back 7 is held against the flanges35 by extensions on the package holder, which will be described hereinafter. The casing is removed from the back by simply raising it upward. A.

convenient means of lockingfthefcasing. the back is not claimed.

Chocolate, candy, or any other merchandise,in" packages of suitable shape and uni# form size 19, are stacked in a vertical packback wall 63 of the holder to provide a flange 61, forming a channelway 64a for the ends of the packages` by paralle-ling thel back wall 63. Side wall 65 is cut out 66 to admit of the packages being placed in, endwise, under the turnover fiange 61, which holds them in'place'against the front wall 63.` The corner 71 is cut out to provide space for the deposit of the coins, and the .extensions 59 provide bearings against the back 7, serving the double purpose of securing the holder against the front wall 36 and the back 7 against the flanges 35, Fig. 11. The holder extensions 59 are beveled at the corners to unobstructively admit the back 7 in putting the casing on the back. The back wall 63 of the holder, near the top end, is cut through and two lugs 31 are turned at right angles, which provide a pivotal fastening for the pulley 12, and a slot 60 is cut through the back wall 63 with a notch 67, which provide a slideway and holdback catch for the feed slide 6, Figs. 1 and 2. To secure' the package holder in place, sidewise, two extensions 57 and 62 are provided,

' which jam against the side casing wall 82,

iiange 3o.

and to secure it with these extensions so jammed, extension 58 is provided to rest against the flat lever 9, Fig. 2, whilev the lower end is likewise secured by a rturnup lug 43, Fig. 2, from an inner casing, described hereinafter.

rlhe inner casing 54, Fig. 2, conforms to the front casing wall 36, extending from the bottom wall 34 to about midway upward of the casing, and from the casing wall 82 to the side wall 83 at the lower corner side, where a portion is turned up in conformity with the side wall 83, thus providing an eX- tension 39, which holds the said inner casing in place by jamming under the side wall The pulley 12, Figs. 1 and 2, is made of a circular piece of sheet metal, its edge turned at right angles to form a winding face, which also provides an inner space for a fiat spring 51, Fig. 2. The pulley has a round bearing hole through its center, through which the lugs 31 from the holder back are inserted. The' springl 51 is 32 again st the l hooked between the lugs 31, then, wound around them, and the outer end is hooked to a lug 52, which is turned up from the shank face of the pulley, when the' ends of the lugs31 areturned over, as indicated in Fig.. 1, to` secure the pulley to the holder,

i and also to' prevent the spring from buc provide'an arm 21, which serves to close the coin slot 46, when the last package is deliv ered,\as hereinafterdescribed, while a simi-'- lar bend on the opposite side of the holder wall 63provides an armv 41, 'paralleling the slot closing arm 21, with its upper .edge

turnedl downto the holder wall 63 toA formV a flat face for pushingV the packages. A cord4 is secured to j theface` of .thel pulley at its shank edge, and with. the springl 51 wound at proper tension the other end of the cord is secured to the outer corner 22 of the slide 6.v When-the proper connection of theI spring and cordf is made the slide ispulled down, or back, by a thumb catch 26 till the slide catches Vin "the notch 67. When vthe slide is caught inthe notch the holder can be readily filled by sliding the packages endwise under theturnover flange 61, which is made wider at thetop end to insure accuracy in guiding the package into the cylinder; After the holder is filled with ten packages, or less, and the machine can be designed for many-more with the same efficiency, the slide is released,which brings the spring pressure against the package column, forcing the uppermost package against the side of the cylinder. The slot closing arm 21V passes over the pulley 12 asit advances upward, and as the feed cord 4 is attached to the lower end outer corner of the slide 6, the spring 51 forces the pushing face 41 against the cylinder' when the last package is delivered. The cylinder sets' in and across the top lend of the casing, conforming to the circular bend 86 of thefront wall 36 with its ends facing the casing side l walls, held in place against the circular top of the casing by twolugs 81, cut through and turned down fromthe provided wider portions of the covering cap flanges 35a. The wall of the cylinder has an opening 3,

Fig. 2, for the admission of a package, and` across and slightly belowV itsA center with one' edge turned at right angles to give it a central bearing in the cylinder, is a sheet metal delivery platform 69,'Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the outer surface of which is in alinement, and li'ush, with the lower side lineof the opening in the cylinder 8, indicated in Fig. 5. Beneath the platform 69 is a wire spring 40, which is secured to one end of the platform, while the other end `is bent upward through a slot 73 in the platform, extending slightly above the outer platform surface, which extension in the way of the entering package is Vforced back to the cylinder wall, causing its spring edect--to throw thatend of the package out of the casing when the cylinder opening is rotated to the similar opening 2, Figs. 1 and 5, in the casing.

The ends of the cylinder are inclosed with fiat, circular, pieces oit sheet -nietal 77, Fig. 8, notched at 78 into'the cylinder wall. @no ai the end pieces is ont through and a lug turned out to prfride a pinion 1st, Fig. 2, which extends through the channel slot 17, Fig. l, .in the fiat lever 9, Figs. 1 and The fiat lever i'aces the end of the cylinder, and extends downward along thcl side wall 88, and is held slightly away from the wall 88 by a lug 4.4-, cutthrough and turned out ot the said lever to hold it in alinement with the lower end of the lever, which end is supported at the same distance from the wall 88 by a iiat upright end 18 bent inwardly from the extension turnup 89 of the inner casing 54, the inward bend serving the double'pnrpose of an upright guide to the fiat lever 9 and a catch 18a for the latch 8. The opposite end piece has in its center two parallel slots 75, Fig. 8, for the insertion of the dat staple 55, Fig. 2, which staple serves to secure the turn button 56 to the cylinder 5. The turn button 56 is formed from a circular piece of sheet metal by turning the edge at right angles forming a corrugated rim, the tlat shank having two corresponding parallel slots through which the iiat staple 55 is inserted, then through a round hole in the side walls of the casing 10 and covering cap 80, thence into the slots in the end piece of the cylinder, incidentally securing the covering cap 80 to the casing 10,4 and, by turning over the. ends of the staple, the turn button is'secured to the cylinder.

`The lever 9 is of heavy sheet metal extending in width from the front wall 36 to the back 7, its lower end terminated at the cut out space 71 of the package holder to prevent interference in its movements with the deposited coins. A swinging lat-ch 8 is attachedto the if'lat lever 9 by means of a turnover lug 16 on its upper end corner, which is hooked into a V shaped hole in the flat lever, and held in place by the side wall 88. @ne edge of the latch is turned over the edge of the lever flush with the opposite side of the lever 9, except at the extreme lower end where a lug 27 extends over the coin runway 45, hereinafter described. rlhe latch 8 is balanced to swing inwardly of the inachine, its swinging-weight adjusted to the weight of the coin, thus preventing the use of a paper or light weight slug to lii't the latch above the catch that locks the cylinder. At the swinging end of the latch 8 an extension corner of the flat lever 9 is turned over at right angles to provide a stop lug 28, which serves to stop the coin in its descent, and hold it till the downward movement of the flat lever 9 releases the latch 8 rom the catch 18 by advancing it beyond the catch 18a; the stop Q8 serving the purpose also of supporting the flat lever 9 in its upright position by plying against the package holder wall 8eas the lever 9 moves vertically up and down, held in this position by the inward bend 18 on the opposite side, and still 'further serving to provide the space for the coin runway a5, Fig. 2, for the inserted coin, the lever 9 `forming one side, and the holder wall 64:, combined with a right angle turnup wall 11 from the inner casing 54 in line with, and turned up to, the holder wall 8d, forming the other side. A slot for the insertion of the coin is cnt through the walls of the casing and covering cap, Fig. 2, at the head of the runway 45. A. slight out ont 8." is made in the lever 9 to give clearance in passing over the eX- tension Q0, while the other edge has a tapering out out to provide room for the latch 8. The inner casii'ig is cut out at 68, Figs.

2 and 5, to provide a recess so that when the coin advances with the downward movement of the lever 9 the drop ont the coin Jfrom the extension 20 into the recess 68 lets it pass under the lug stop :98, and drop to the coin receptacle 71, and the mechanism is so adjusted that, when the cylinder, after inserting the coin, is rotated. in either direction, but preferably in the direction of the arrow, the downward movement o'lf the lever 9 will carry the coin into the recess 68 the moment that the cylinder opening 8 is `flush with the discharge end ot the holder and the package is in the cylinder, and also that, the continued rotation necessary to deliver the package to the casing opening 2 raises the lever 9 upward, carrying the latch 8 back behind the catch 18, relocking` the cylinder in delivering the package.

Fig. 1 shows the machine in exact size filled with packages, 1f,- inches long, of an inch wide and of an inch thick with beveled edges, and locked against operation. To operate it, a coin 88 is inserted in the slot 16 when it drops down the runway d5, and lodges against the stop lug` 28, resting1 on the flat extension 99, raising the latch 8 by contact with, and under, the extension lng 2?, which unlocks the lever 9 and the cylinder 5 can be easily rotated by grasping the turn button 56 between the thumb and finger. When the lever is locked, the opening 8 is in that angular position in which it is ont of alinement with and cannot receive a packagefroin the holder, and when the lever is unlocked, as stated, and the cylinder rotated from'its position in Fig. l to its position in Fig. 5, or to where the opening 3l is opposite the uppermost package in the holder, the pulley l2, spring 51, cord-a and slide mechanism 5 force the contacting package into the cylinder, as indicated in Fig. 5, the-outer edge of the package when in the cylinder being` Hush with the peripheral wall of the cylinder, the coin at this stage of the operation having dropped through, and the wire spring a() having been pushed back, as described, the further or continued rotation of the cylinder with the package on the delivery platform under the pressure exerted by spring l0 carries the package to opposite the similarI opening 2 in the casing, where one end of the package is forced out of the cylinder by the wire spring -l-O, thus delivering it in a manner that it can be readily 1asped between the thumb and finger. This operation can be repeated, package after package, till all of the packages in the machine have been delivered. On the delivery of the last package in the machine the slot closing arm 2l on the feed slide comes in contact with the inwardly turned end 47 of the upper half l1 of the inner casing wall l1, and springs the overturned fiat end 48 over the coin slot 46, thus closing the slot 46, and preventing the further insertion of a coin till the machine is refilled, when the closing arm 2l is returned to the lower end of the package holder.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the cylinder after being unlocked by insertion of a check or coin may be moved to the position to receive a package from the package holder. The cylinder may then be rotated in either direction to bring the opening within the cylinder into register with the opening in the casing to discharge the package. But before reaching the position where the cylinder opening and the casing opening register the cylinder is locked against reverse movement toward the position where the cylinder opening registers with the package holder or delivering means.

Or the cylinder may be continuously ro tated in one and the same direction, in which case after being unlocked by insertion of a coin or check it may be rotated to position to receive a' package from the package holder. Then it may be rotated, as in the direction indicated by the arrow,l*`ig. 5, to bring the opening in the cylinder into register with the opening in the casing for discharging the package. Before even the most advanced portion of the opening in the'cylinder comes to the edge of the opening in the casing the cylinder is relocked to prevent reverse movement of the cylinder to position in which its opening registers with the package delivering means or holder. This prevents access through the casing opening to the package within the cylinder to allow its mutilation or removal piecemeal and return to position to receive another package without insertion of another coin.` Assuming the cylinder to have rotated in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 5 and tof have delivered the package through the casing opening, the cylinder is rotated farther inthe same direction, indicated by the arrow, but remains locked, however, throughout this further movement until the cylinder has rotated practically 90 degrees beyond the casing opening, where its further movement is limited by the lock. insertion of a further check or coin, however, will unlock the cylinder, and it may be further 'rotated in the saine direction indicated by the arrow to position to receive another package from the package holder.

Various modifications may be made in the embodiment of my invention hereinbefore described without departure from the nature ofthe invention as dened in the following claims.

I claim:

l. lncoin controlled apparatus, the coinbination with a casing having a package deliveryk opening in a wall thereof, of a `cylinder within said casing and in close contact with said wall and having aV package holding opening adapted to register directly with said opening in said casing, coin controlled means for locking said cylinder, and means within said casing for delivering a package into said opening in said cylinder, said cylinder being capable .of rotation Ycontinuously in one direction for receiving, delivering and again receiving a package.

2. In coin controlled apparatus, the combination with a casingv having a delivery opening, of a cylinder rotatable within said casing and having' a package holding Vopening, means for delivering a package into said opening in said cylinder, means 'for rotating said` cylinder to cause the opening therein to register in succession with said' package delivering means and Said opening insaid casing, and coin controlled means for locking said cylinder in position preventing delivery into said cylinder of' a package from said package delivering means, said cylinder being capable of rotation continuously in one direction for receiving, delivering and again receiving a package.

3. ln coin controlled apparatus, the combination with a casing having a. delivery opening, of a cylinder rotatable within said casing and having a package holding opening, means for 4delivering a package into said opening in said cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder to cause the `opening therein' to register in succession with said' naaees package delivering means and said opening in said casing, coin controlled means -for locking said cylinder in position preventing delivery into said cylinder of a package from said package delivering means, and means for'rotating said cylinder upon release of said locking means to bring, the cylinderopening into register With said package delivering means and thereafter .with said opening in said casing, said cylinder being capable of rotation continuously in one direction for receiving, delivering and again receiving a package.

4l.' ln coin controlled apparatus, the combination vvith a rotatable cylinder having an openingfor holding a package to be delivered, means for delivering `a package into said opening in said cylinder, and means normally locking said cylinder in position with its opening out of register with said package delivering means comprising a lever pivoted 'to said cylinder eccentric to the axis thereof, a latch carried by and movable with respect to said lever, and an abutment against Which said latch normally engages, said lat-ch adapted to be actuated by a coin to disengage from said abutment to free said lever, whereby lsaid cylinder may be rotated,

5. rfop delivery coin controlled apparatus comprising a casing having a delivery opening in its Wall at the top thereof, a cylinder rotatable Within said casing close to said Wall and having a package holding opening adapted to register with said opening in said Wall, a package holder in said casing having its upper end closelyadjacent to said cylinder, a spring actuated drum rotatably supported upon said package holder, a feed slide moved longitudinally of said holder by said drum adapted to move a series of packages upwardly in said holder to deliver the same into the opening in said cylinder, and means for rotating said cylinder to bring the opening therein successively into register With said package holder and With said opening in the Wall of said casing.

6. Top delivery coin controlled appara-tus comprising a casing having a delivery opening in its Wall at the top thereof, a cylinder rotatable vvithin said casing close to said Wall and having a package holding opening' adapted to register with said opening in said Wall, a package holder in said casing having its upper end closely adjacent to said cylinder, a spring actuated drum rotatably supported upon said package holder, a feed slide moved longitudinally of said holder by said drum adapted to move a series of packages upwardly in said holder to deliver the same into the opening in said cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder to bring the opening therein successively into register With said package holder and with said opening in the Wall of said casing, and coin controlled means normally locking said cylinder in position in which the opening therein is out of register with said package holder.

7. ln coin controlled apparatus, i' bination with a casing having a` opening in a iva-ll thereof, of a cy tatable Within said casing in close proa to said iva-ll and having opening adapted to der with said op ing in said Wall, package holder rsf-.thin said casing, a projection on said holder having a cylindrical surface forming a bearing for the Wall of said cylin if means for rotating said cylinder, and coin controlled means for locking said cylinder.

8. ln coin controlled apparatus, the combination with a casing having a delivery opening in a Wall thereof, of a cap on said casing having an opening registering with said opening in said casing, a cylinder rotatable Within said casingl and having an opening adapted to register with said openings in said casing and cap, a handle for rotating said cylinder, a pivotal bearing on one end of said cylinder', package holding means in c said casing', a projection on said package holdingmeans forming an additional bearing for said cylinder, and coin controlled means for locking said cylinder.

9. lin coin controlled apparatus, the coinbination With a. casing having a delivery opening, of a rotatable member in said casing for delivering a package through said opening, a package holder in said casing, a feed slide movable on said holder for moving packages longitudinally thereof to said rotatable member, a motive device for moving said feed slide, coin controlled means for locking said rotatable member, said casing having a coin slot, a member disposed we adjacent said coin slot actuated by said feed slide at the limit of its movement into position preventing; insertion of a coin through said slot.

l0. ln apparatus of the character described, package holding and delivering means comprising a holder member in Which the packages are stacked, a feed slide on one side of said holder member, a motive device supported on the other side of said holder, said holder having a longitudinally extending slot, and a connection from said feed silde through said slot to said motive device.

l1. ln apparatus of the character described, package holding and delivering means comprising a holder member in which the packages are stacked, a feed slide on one side of said holder member, a motive device supported on the other side of said holder, said holder having a longitudinally extending' slot, and a connection from said feed slide through said slot to said motive device, said slot havingv a notch, and means on said feed slide adapted to engage in said lll) notch to restrain said feed slide against movement by said motive device.

l2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a casing having; a delivery opening therein, of a cylinder rotatable therein and having an opening adapted to register directly with said opening in said casing, means in said casing for delivering a package into said opening in said cylinder, resilient means in said opening in said cylinder in opposition to which said package delivering means delivers a package into said opening, said means thrusting the package outwardly through said opening in said casing when said cylinder is rotated to position to bring its opening into registry with said opening insaid casing.

13. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination with a casing having a delivery opening therein, of a cylinder rotatable therein and having an opening adapted to register directly with said opening in said casing, means in said casing for delivering apackage into said opening in said cylinder, resilient means in said opening in. said cylinder in opposition to which said package delivering means delivers a package into said opening, said means thrusting the package outwardly through said opening in said casing when said cylinder is rotated to position to bring its opening into registry with said opening in said casing, and means limiting the :outward throw of said resilient means.

la. Top delivery coin controlled apparatuscomprising` a casing having a delivery opening in its wall at the top thereof, a cylinder rotatable within said casing close to said wall and having a package holding opening adapted to register with said opening in said wall, a package holder in said casing for holding a plurality of packages, means for delivering said packages upwardly in succession into the opening in said cylinder, coin controlled means for locking said cylinder, and means for rotating said cylinder to bring the opening therein successively into register with said package holder and with said opening in the Wall of said casino".

l5. Top delivery coin controlled apparatus comprising a casing having a deliver opening in its wallatthetop thereof, a cy inder rotatable within said casing close to said wall and having a package holding opening .adapted to register with said Yopening in said wall, a package holder in said casing for holding a plurality of packages, means for delivering-said packages upwardly in succession into the opening in said cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder to bring the opening therein successively into register with said package holder and with said opening in the wall ofvsaid casing, and coin controlled means for locking said cylinder after receiving a package from said package holder preventing reverse movement thereof to bring the opening therein again into register with said package delivering means. 16. Coin controlled apparatus comprising a casing having a package delivery opening in a wall thereof, a cylinder rotatable with-. in said casing and in close contact with said wall and having a package holding opening adapted to register directly with said opening` in said casing, means within said casing for Adelivering packages in succession into said opening in said cylinder, and coin controlled means for locking said cylinder after `receiving a package from said delivering means against reverse movement thereof to bring its opening again into position to receive a package from said package delivering means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

LOUIS K. MEARKLE.

Witnesses:

R. S. Bns'r, WV. E. HERRING.

Copies of this patent may be lobtained for five cents each, by addressing the fGommissoner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

